Shooting Illustrated Ammo Editor Richard Mann was the recipient of the 2019 Bill McRae Lifetime Achievement Award in April. The award was established by Bushnell in 2011 to honor Bill McRae, the legendary writer and photojournalist who made vast contributions to the optics and outdoor industry throughout his 50-year career. As an active shooting sports educator, gifted writer, speaker and leading force in driving a multimedia evolution in optics education, Mann’s work reflects the spirit of the annual award.
“Bushnell established this award to honor Bill McRae, who did more to advance our understanding of optics and how they can benefit hunters and shooters than any other writer before him,” said Jacob Edson, public relations manager for Bushnell. “Richard epitomizes the modern ideal of those contributions. He not only entertains, but teaches, millions of hunters and shooters through a variety of outlets.”
“It’s unquestionably an honor to receive the Bill McCrae Lifetime achievement award from Bushnell, but I did not do it on my own.” Mann said. “Lots of folks in the industry have helped me along—and they know who they are—but none more so than the 2013 recipient, John Barsness. I also recognize all the absences my wife has tolerated while I was out shooting and hunting, and all the photos my son took to make what I wrote look that much better. It’s high praise for a hillbilly whose high school senior English teacher told him to forget his dreams of becoming an outdoor writer. I’m humbled—and she was wrong.”
Born and raised in West Virginia, Mann has hunted from the Montana mountains to the green hills of Africa. He has a military, law enforcement, firearms instructing and competitive shooting background, and is the author of several books. He contributes to a variety of gun and hunting magazines and works in a consulting capacity for a variety of manufacturers.
“Richard’s dedication and immersion in the shooting sports is so complete that he has crafted his home into a shooting range and media production facility,” Edson said. “He has fully embraced the new age of media and has an innate ability to capture and educate audiences in all mediums, from print, to online writing and photography, video production and hands-on instruction. His deep knowledge and passion is undeniable, and he has continually stayed ahead of the game as the technology and sport have evolved. Beyond a doubt, he has made a profound impact in this industry.”
